基督的先驱

在那些日子里,施洗者[a]约翰来了,在犹太的旷野传道, 说:“你们应当悔改,因为天国近了。” 约翰就是藉着先知以赛亚所说的那个人。以赛亚说:

“在旷野有声音呼喊着:
‘你们当预备主的道,
当修直[b]他的路!’”[c]

约翰穿着骆驼毛做的衣服,腰束皮带。他的食物是蝗虫和野蜜。 那时,耶路撒冷、全犹太地区和整个约旦河一带的人,都出来到他那里, 承认自己的罪孽,在约旦河里受他的洗礼。

约翰看见许多法利赛人和撒都该人也来要受他的洗礼,就对他们说:“你们这些毒蛇的子孙!谁指示你们逃避那将要来临的震怒呢? 你们应当结出果子,与悔改的心相称! 你们不要心里想‘我们有亚伯拉罕为先祖。’我告诉你们:神能从这些石头中给亚伯拉罕兴起儿女来。 10 现在斧子已经放在树根上,所有不结好果子的树都要被砍下来,被丢进火里。

11 “我用水[d]给你们施洗,是为了你们的[e]悔改。但在我之后来的那一位,是比我更强有力的,我就是为他提鞋子也不配。他要用圣灵和火给你们施洗。 12 他手里拿着扬谷的锨,要扬净他的打谷场,把他的麦子收进仓库,却把糠秕用不灭的火烧掉。”

耶稣受洗

13 那时,耶稣从加利利来到约旦河,到了约翰那里,要受他的洗礼。 14 约翰想要阻止他,说:“我需要受你的洗礼,你反而到我这里来吗?”

15 耶稣回答他,说:“现在你就答应吧,因为我们如此成全一切的义,是合宜的。”于是约翰答应了他。

16 耶稣受了洗,一从水里上来,看哪,诸天就为他[f]开了,他看见神的灵好像鸽子降下,临到他身上。 17 这时候,忽然有声音从诸天传来,说:

“这是我的爱子,
我所喜悦的。”

Footnotes

  1. 马太福音 3:1 施洗——或译作“施浸”。
  2. 马太福音 3:3 修直——或译作“修平”。
  3. 马太福音 3:3 《以赛亚书》40:3。
  4. 马太福音 3:11 用水——或译作“在水里”。
  5. 马太福音 3:11 你们的——辅助词语。
  6. 马太福音 3:16 有古抄本没有“为他”。

施洗者约翰为耶稣铺路

当时,施洗者约翰在犹太的荒原上传教。 他对人们说∶“悔改吧,天国很近了。 [a] 约翰就是先知以赛亚所说的那个人。先知说:

“旷野里有个呼唤着的人,
‘为主准备好道路。
修直他的路。’” (A)

约翰身穿骆驼毛织成的衣服,腰系皮带,吃的是蝗虫和野蜜。 人们纷纷离开耶路撒冷、犹太各地和约旦河一带所有地区,来到约翰那里。 他们承认自己的罪,并在约旦河里接受了约翰的洗礼。

许多法利赛人和撒都该人也来接受约翰的洗礼,约翰看到他们,说道∶“你们这些毒蛇,谁警告过你们去逃避即将来临的上帝的审判呢? 改变你们的内心吧!通过你们的生活方式来表明你们已经改变了。 我知道你们在想什么,你们想说:‘但是,亚伯拉罕是我们的祖先!’这毫无意义。我告诉你们,上帝可以让这些石头都变成亚伯拉罕的子孙! 10 现在砍树的斧头已经准备好了,每棵不结好果子的树 [b]都将被砍倒,扔进火里。

11 我用水给你们施洗礼来表示你们的悔改。但是,在我之后来的那位,他比我更强大,我甚至都不配当给他脱鞋的奴仆。他将用圣灵和火给你们施洗礼。 12 他手里拿着簸谷叉,他将清理谷场,把麦粒收进粮仓,把麦麸 [c]用不灭的火烧掉。”

耶稣受洗

13 然后,耶稣从加利利来到约旦河。他走到约翰面前,请约翰为他施洗礼。 14 但是约翰说他不配为耶稣施洗礼,他说∶“我应该让您给我洗礼,您怎么反而来找我呢?” 15 耶稣回答说∶“现在就照上帝的方式来做吧,凡是对的,我们都应当做。”约翰这才同意为耶稣施洗礼。

16 这样,耶稣接受了洗礼。就在耶稣从水里站出来的时候,天为他豁然敞开,耶稣看见上帝的灵像鸽子一样降落在他身上。 17 一个来自天堂的声音说∶“这是我的爱子,他令我非常喜悦!”

Footnotes

  1. 馬 太 福 音 3:2 很近了: 或“即将来临” 或“已来临。”
  2. 馬 太 福 音 3:10 树: 即不接受耶稣的人,他们会像树一样被砍倒。不结善果的树指不信耶稣的人。
  3. 馬 太 福 音 3:12 麦粒指好人: 麦麸指坏人。这里的意思是耶稣把好人和坏人分开。

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.